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Michigan State Police Will Test Five New-Vehicle Introductions

Law enforcement drivers will test new patrol cars from Ford and General Motors, as well as Kawasaki's re-entry into the police motorcycle market.

A Michigan State Police driver takes a 2010 Ford CVPI around the track at the Chrysler Proving Grounds during 2009 testing. Photo courtesy of Michigan State Police.

This year's evaluations of 2011 model-year patrol vehicles in Michigan and Los Angeles should be history making when the rubber hits the testing track.

This fall, the Michigan State Police and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will evaluate a crop of new patrol vehicles from each of the Detroit automakers.

In late September, the Michigan State Police Precision Driving Unit's law enforcement drivers will put themselves behind the wheel of new police vehicles from Ford, General Motors/Chevrolet and Chrysler Dodge during testing and evaluation.

Ford's inclusion of its Taurus-based patrol car introduced in March as a concept vehicle may be a signal the company wants to keep pace with General Motors in a law enforcement market where the Blue Oval claims about 75 percent of the law enforcement market.

The new Ford Police Interceptor will arrive in all-wheel and front-wheel versions, yet only the all-wheel version will be evaluated. However, the driving unit will also test the 3.5-liter EcoBoost, V-6 twin-turbocharged, direct-injection engine rated at 365 hp.

Overall, 14 patrol cars, the pursuit-rated Chevy Tahoe and four motorcycles will be evaluated for acceleration, top speed, and brake testing on Sept. 18 at the Chrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Mich.

The vehicles will also be put through high-speed handling tests, on Sept. 20, to simulate pursuit conditions at Grattan Raceway.

In addition to the new patrol cars, Michigan State Police drivers will also test the two versions of the 4.6L V6 Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptor (3.27 and 3.55 rear-axle ratios); 5.7L V8 Dodge Charger; 3.6L V6 Dodge Charger; and 3.9L V6 Chevrolet Impala. The pursuit-rated 5.7L V8 Chevrloet Tahoe SUV will also be evaluated.

Other motorcycles include the BMW R1200 RTP; H-D Electra Glide FLHTP; and H-D Road King FLHP. Despite the growing popularity of Honda's SP1300 sport bike among West Coast agencies, the manufacturer doesn't submit a vehicle to the agency for testing.

Statistical results from the tests are compiled and published in an annual report used by law enforcement fleet managers when purchasing patrol vehicles.

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Comments (2)

Displaying 1 - 2 of 2

FireCop08 @ 8/17/2010 8:47 AM

Thanks to Washington for their unrealistic fuel economy requirements and the absolutely idiotic decisions over the years (that still seem to continue) by management with North American auto makers, we are losing the best car we've had for police use, the Crown Victoria P71. There is no single solid reason why we are seeing the end of the Crown Vic/Grand Marquis/Town Car line up. These cars over the years gave us roomy comfort, performance and even some years good fuel economy. The growing segment of car buyers are us older guys, and we want full size automobiles; not GM or Ford's version of a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. We'll buy a Tahoe or Expedition rather than the smaller cars that will be on the market in the next few years both for on and off duty. If there is a chance of saving these full frame rear wheel drive vehicles, that would be the best decision made in decades by one of the Big 3.

dtpd @ 9/18/2010 1:16 PM

I agree with FireCop08. The crown vic will be missed. Good bye to the old reliable.

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